Tequila overtakes gin as the UK’s favourite warm-weather spirit

A crisp gin and tonic has for many British people been just the ticket as the weather gets warmer, but new consumer data shows tequila is overtaking gin for the first time as a summer tipple of choice.

Spicy margaritas, which are a piquant twist on the classic tequila, lime and triple sec cocktail, have taken the UK by a storm in recent years and now the country is firmly hooked on tequila, with many ordering a tequila and tonic instead of a G&T.

The Marks & Spencer summer trends report found that tequila is the retailer’s hottest spirit. It reads: “Tequila is having a major glow-up, with sales soaring 50% year on year and margarita sales jumping a huge 75%, making it one of the hottest spirits of the summer.”

It is the 40th anniversary of the high street canned cocktail; M&S launched its “gin in a tin” in 1986. This year, the store is launching a canned tequila and tonic to “ride the wave” of its popularity. It will also be launching, for the first time this summer, a range of high-end “sipping tequilas”.

Consumer trends have always changed; the first cocktails in a tin launched by M&S are rarely seen today; in the 80s, the line included snowballs, gin fizzes and Harvey Wallbangers.

Cocktail bars and restaurants across the country have noticed the tequila boom, with the spirit featuring in bestselling drinks. George Pell, the owner of the Suffolk, in Aldeburgh, said: “At the Suffolk, our sea buckthorn margarita is currently our top-selling cocktail. There’s certainly been a shift in drinking habits: people are consuming less overall, but when they do, they’re opting for higher-quality options.

“Celebrity-backed brands have also had an influence. Tequilas such as George Clooney’s Casamigos have encouraged more people to reach for tequila I think.”

The same thirst for tequila is being experienced at the Mariners in Rock, Cornwall. Joe Rozier, the pub’s operations director, said: “Tequila is definitely having a moment. At the Mariners, our spicy yuzu margarita is currently our top-selling cocktail by some distance – in March alone, we sold more than double the number of spicy yuzu margaritas as elderflower gin fizzes, which says a lot given the traditional strength of gin.

“We’re also seeing strong demand for simple tequila serves like tequila, lime and soda, and tequila with lime and ginger beer. And we’re only early in the year – as we head into summer, I’d expect those numbers to climb significantly.”

Canned cocktails such as the Moth range and the plastic BuzzBallz, which has a spicy margarita flavour, have meant people have had exposure to easy-to-drink tequila-based cocktails, helping the trend.

Tequila has long been a popular spirit in the US, where it is the second-most popular after vodka. In the UK, where gin and vodka fight for the top spot, the spirit is experiencing a rapid growth in popularity, with a 22% import growth between 2024 and 2025 according to trade data from Volza.

Simone Spagnilo, the head of bars at Inception Group, which runs 15 venues in London said: “Across the Mr Fogg’s bars, the margarita is the most popular cocktail we sell, where it ties with the espresso martini. We have also seen the popularity of the paloma, the combination of tequila, grapefruit soda, agave and lime, increase in recent years.

“Tequila-based drinks can provide a slightly lighter alternative to a G&T, when the weather is warmer.”